PM says up to $40b can be earned from tourism in region | Inaugurates Skardu Int’l Airport, strategic road project
SKARDU
Prime Minister Imran Khan has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to uplift the poor people and backward areas of the country.
Addressing a public gathering in Skardu on Thursday, the prime minister said that several steps have been taken in order to bring areas such as Gilgit-Baltistan, tribal districts, South Balochistan, Interior Sindh and those in Punjab at par with the developed ones.
The prime minister said the people of G-B will soon witness an unprecedented era of economic prosperity with revenue generation through tourism and employment opportunities.
Referring to the inauguration of Skardu International Airport and Jaglot-Skardu Road, the prime minister expressed the confidence that both international and domestic tourists will pour into this region because of enhanced connectivity. He was confident that overseas Pakistanis will be the first ones to visit the region to spend their summer vacations. He said this will provide livelihood opportunities to the local people of Gilgit Baltistan.
The prime minister mentioned that tourism can become a big asset for Pakistan. He pointed out that Switzerland, which is half the size of Gilgit-Balochistan, is earning $70 billion from tourism. He said given the unparalleled beauty of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan can also earn about thirty to forty billion dollars from tourism in this region. He said there is also great scope of religious tourism in other parts of the country.
Turning to the issue of price hike, the prime minister said it is an international phenomenon. He, however, said the government has started Ehsaas Ration scheme under which each household earning less than Rs50,000 a month will be provided a thirty percent subsidy on wheat-flour, ghee and pulses.
He said the health insurance scheme has covered the whole population in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the same is being launched in Punjab from next month. He said the health cards will also be provided to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan under which they will be able to avail medical treatment worth Rs1 million from the public or private hospitals.
The prime minister said, “We have also launched the Kamyab Pakistan initiative to uplift the underprivileged segments of the society.” He added that the programme envisages interest free loans and technical training for one member of every deserving household.
Imran Khan lauded the National Highway Authority (NHA) and Frontier Works Organisation for working relentlessly in improving the connectivity of roads in G-B. He said connecting G-B with Azad Jammu and Kashmir through roads will also bring improvement in the lives of locals, adding that hydroelectricity projects have also been set up in G-B to meet the water requirements of the region.
In his remarks, Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan Khalid Khurshid said it is the first time that the present government has announced a development package for the region, saying this will help address our electricity and connectivity issues.
Earlier, the prime minister inaugurated the 164-kilometer Jaglot-Skardu Road to provide a safe drive to the commuters, besides promoting tourism in the area. The Jaglot–Skardu Road is a major link between Karakorum Highway and Skardu.
The Frontier Works Organization (FWO) constructed its initial track in 1984. The difficult terrain has intense snow fall and major rock sliding.
Minister for Communications Murad Saeed and Chairman NHA Khurram Agha briefed the prime minister on the project and its significance for the locals as well as the tourism.
The up-gradation of Jaglot-Skardu road will enhance the comfortable road ride to locals as well as tourists by increasing the width of road from 3.6 to 7.3 meter and reducing the sharp curves. A spokesperson for the National Highway Authority said the road was a gift for the locals by the government. He said it was the “main strategic road” that connects GB with the Karakoram Highway at Jaglot. TLTP
